Where to Find Your Perfect Non-Frozen Turkey for Thanksgiving: A Comprehensive Guide

Having a turkey this year? Allow us to assist you in selecting the ideal bird for your dining area.

Selecting the appropriate turkey can make the difference between an ordinary Thanksgiving and an extraordinary one. While any of our birds are a great choice, it can be challenging to find a particular size or certification. Rest assured, we’re here to help simplify the process. See more about our birds and get professional advice on purchasing and storing them below.

Thanksgiving is a time for family friends, and of course delicious food. The centerpiece of many Thanksgiving meals is the turkey, and for those who prefer a fresh, never-frozen option, finding the right bird can be a challenge. But worry not, turkey enthusiasts! This guide will help you navigate the world of fresh turkey and point you in the direction of retailers who can satisfy your Thanksgiving needs.

Fresh vs. Frozen: Weighing the Options

Before embarking on your fresh turkey hunt let’s consider the pros and cons of fresh versus frozen turkeys:

Fresh Turkeys:

Pros:

Juicier and more flavorful: Fresh turkeys haven’t been subjected to the freezing and thawing process, which can sometimes result in dryness.
No need to thaw: This can be a major time-saver, especially if you’re short on time before Thanksgiving.
May be available in a wider variety of sizes and breeds: This gives you more options to choose from, depending on your needs and preferences.

Cons:

More expensive: Fresh turkeys typically cost more than their frozen counterparts.
Shorter shelf life: Fresh turkeys need to be cooked within 1-2 days of purchase, while frozen turkeys can be stored for months.
May be harder to find: Not all retailers carry fresh turkeys, especially closer to Thanksgiving.

Frozen Turkeys:

Pros:

More affordable: Frozen turkeys are generally cheaper than fresh turkeys.
Longer shelf life: Frozen turkeys can be stored for months, giving you more flexibility in your Thanksgiving planning.
Widely available: Most supermarkets and grocery stores carry frozen turkeys.

Cons:

May be less juicy and flavorful: The freezing and thawing process can sometimes lead to dryness.
Need to be thawed before cooking: This can take several days, so make sure to plan ahead.

Where to Find Your Fresh Turkey: A Retailer Roundup

Now that you’ve weighed the options, let’s dive into where you can find your ideal fresh turkey:

Supermarkets and Grocery Stores:

Aldi: This discount supermarket chain offers fresh Butterball turkeys at competitive prices. They typically have a good selection of sizes and weights available.
Trader Joe’s: This popular grocery store is known for its unique and high-quality products, including fresh turkeys. They offer several varieties, including organic and brined options.
Whole Foods Market: This upscale grocery chain carries a variety of fresh turkeys, including both organic and non-organic options. However, availability and prices may vary by location.

Specialty Butcher Shops and Farmers Markets:

Local butchers: These shops often carry high-quality fresh turkeys from local farms. They may also be able to offer advice on selecting and preparing your turkey.
Farmers markets: Many farmers markets sell fresh turkeys directly from local farmers. This is a great option if you’re looking for a truly fresh and ethically-sourced bird.

Online Retailers:

Butterball: The official Butterball website offers a wide selection of fresh turkeys, including both whole birds and turkey breasts. They also offer convenient delivery options.
Goldbelly: This online marketplace offers a variety of Thanksgiving meal packages, including some that feature fresh turkeys.
Myrtle Greens: This plant-based brand sells whole vegan “turkeys” made from non-GMO soy protein. These meat-free birds are a great option for those who are looking for a cruelty-free Thanksgiving alternative.

Tips for Selecting and Preparing Your Fresh Turkey:

Plan ahead: Fresh turkeys are often in high demand, so it’s best to place your order in advance, especially if you have specific size or breed preferences.
Check the sell-by date: Make sure the turkey you purchase is fresh and hasn’t been sitting on the shelf for too long.
Store properly: Keep your fresh turkey refrigerated at 35°F to 40°F until you’re ready to cook it.
Thaw safely: If you purchase a frozen turkey, thaw it in the refrigerator for several days before cooking. Never thaw a turkey at room temperature.
Follow safe cooking guidelines: Use a meat thermometer to ensure your turkey is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.

Finding the perfect fresh turkey for Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By understanding the pros and cons of fresh versus frozen turkeys, knowing where to shop, and following a few simple tips, you can ensure a delicious and stress-free Thanksgiving feast.

What Makes Our Turkeys Different?

Every fresh and frozen turkey we sell satisfies our quality standards, whether it be traditional or kosher, heirloom or organic. Except for kosher turkeys, all options are Animal Welfare Certified and turkeys are third-party audited to ensure they meet over 100 standards for animal welfare. Additionally, the animals must not be raised with antibiotics at all, nor may they be fed animal byproducts, like all meat and poultry in the department. What Types of Turkey Do We Offer?.

So, when browsing our Meat department, here’s what you should know about our turkey selection: fresh or frozen? Organic or heirloom? Not all stores carry kosher, heirloom, or heritage birds, so make sure to check with yours in advance.

These essential birds are always crowd-pleasers. Packed with flavor and wallet-friendly, you can’t go wrong.

Traditional Turkeys: For price, quality, and flavor, these succulent, flavorful birds are a terrific option.
Organic Turkeys: These birds have particular needs regarding the amount of time they can spend outside and are fed only organic, non-GMO food.

This year, try something new and check out our selection of distinctive, special birds.

Regenerative Turkeys: Succulent, juicy birds that graze in cycles, traversing pastures to nourish more fertile soil
Heritage Turkeys: These unusual, traditional birds have a lower meat-to-bone ratio and can have a rich flavor.
Heirloom Turkeys: Having more dark meat and a stronger flavor than heritage turkeys, these unique birds are slightly larger.
Brined Turkeys: To achieve moist, flavorful meat, these birds are marinated in a seasoned brine. Start with one of our brined turkeys if you intend to fry your bird.
Kosher Turkeys: Coated both inside and out with kosher salt, these birds are examined by rabbinical inspectors who have received specialized training to ensure that their processing adheres to kosher regulations. The bird is pre-seasoned and given additional flavor by the kosher salt.
Turkey Breasts: If you’re feeding a smaller crowd, our traditional (never treated with antibiotics) and organic turkey breasts are simpler to brine and require less time to prepare than a whole turkey. We offer bone-in, organic bone-in and boneless options.

All of our Meat department’s fresh and frozen turkeys have to adhere to our strict guidelines for animal welfare, including never using antibiotics during their upbringing and never using animal byproducts in their diet. Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising turkeys.

How to Store Your Turkey

It’s crucial to store your turkey correctly before cooking it, regardless of whether you ordered it from one of our stores or had it delivered. Follow these tips for success.

We store our fresh turkeys at a low temperature so that the surface has a layer of ice on it. This guarantees that your bird can be kept safely at home until you’re ready to cook it. Store your turkey in a secondary refrigerator or keep it deep-chilled (at 35°F) in the coldest area of your refrigerator, with the temperature as low as possible. The day before Thanksgiving, make sure to check your bird because the ice will melt easily over time. Place under cool running water if it appears a little crisp so that it’s perfect by the time of your feast.

Until you’re ready to thaw them, keep frozen birds in your freezer (preferably in a secondary freezer if you have one). You can thaw your turkey in the refrigerator or by immersing it in cold water, depending on how much time you have.

Can you buy a non frozen turkey?

FAQ

Can you buy non frozen turkeys?

Select fresh: The “fresh” label means the turkey has never been chilled below 26 F. Fresh turkeys should not be purchased until one or two days before you cook it, unless the manufacturer’s tag has a “Best by” or “Use by” date that indicates the turkey will be okay on the date you plan to cook it.

Are all store bought turkeys frozen?

These days, turkeys come fresh, frozen and somewhere in between. That “in between” category is courtesy of a recent USDA ruling on labeling. “Fresh” turkeys have to be stored at 26 degrees Fahrenheit or above; frozen turkeys have to be stored at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

Are Whole Foods turkeys frozen?

We offer frozen and fresh, including traditional, organic, brined, and heritage. Some stores have kosher birds too. *Except for pure sea salt solutions for our turkeys labeled “brined.” **Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising turkeys.

Are Costco turkeys fresh or frozen?

Costco usually gets its fresh, never-frozen turkeys in at the local stores around a week before Thanksgiving. And based on past years, those birds are likely to come in at a lower price point that’s more on par with what other stores offer.

Where to buy a non self basted Turkey?

Whole Foods Market is another great place to go for a non self basted turkey. I don’t want to say all for sure, but most likely if you are buying an organic turkey you are good to go. If you see the words “up to % of retained water” that doesn’t mean it’s self-basted or pre-brined.

Where can I buy a whole turkey?

Buy your favorite Whole Turkey online with Instacart. Order Whole Turkey from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours. What size whole turkey should you purchase? How do you store a whole turkey? How do you thaw a whole turkey?

Are free-range turkeys good?

Because they are raised free-range with strict standards of care, these birds are superbly flavorful, and roast up nice and crispy on the outside, with a tender, meaty and moist center. Many happy customers report that once they try our organic turkey, bland conventionally raised turkey is no longer an option.

Can You refreeze a defrosted Turkey?

Never refreeze a defrosted turkey. Remove the neck from the breast cavity and the giblets from the neck cavity. Rinse the inside and outside of the turkey with water, and place the turkey in a roasting pan. Add 1 cup of water to the roasting pan. Loosely cover with aluminum foil.